A bill to legalize hemp in Nevada has been approved by a key Assembly committee; it’s already passed the full Senate.

The Assembly Committee on Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Mining gave approval Friday to Senate Bill 396, sending it towards a vote by the full Assembly. Given the measure has already been passed by the Senate (with a unanimous 20 to 0 vote), passage in the Assembly would send it to Governor Brian Sandoval for consideration.

Under current Nevada law, it’s legal for an institution of higher education or the state’s Department of Agriculture to grow or cultivate industrial hemp for purposes of research conducted under an agricultural pilot program or for other agricultural or academic research. Senate Bill 396 creates “a separate program for the growth and cultivation of industrial hemp and produce agricultural hemp seed in this State”, allowing hemp to be grown for commercial purposes.

The proposal “requires a person who wishes to grow or handle industrial hemp or produce agricultural hemp seed to register with the Department [of Agriculture”, and “requires the testing of commodities or products made using industrial hemp by an independent testing laboratory”

The measure also “allows a facility for the production of edible marijuana products or marijuana-infused products and a medical marijuana dispensary to acquire industrial hemp from a registered grower or handler”, and “allows a facility for the production of edible marijuana products or marijuana-infused products to use industrial hemp to manufacture edible marijuana products and marijuana-infused product”.

In addition, Senate Bill 396 “allows a medical marijuana dispensary to dispense industrial hemp and edible marijuana products and marijuana-infused products containing industrial hemp”, and “requires the Division of Public and Behavioral Health of the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt regulations setting forth minimum requirements for industrial hemp which is used by a facility for the production of edible marijuana products or marijuana-infused products to manufacture such products or which is dispensed by a medical marijuana dispensary”.